If a burglar breaks into your home and is injured by your dog can you got to jail for it?

Question

My friend said you can but i don't believe him. How can you get in trouble for someone else committing a crime against you? All you dog is doing is protecting his home like he's supposed to.

Answer 1

no Your dog is part of your self defense and since the burglar was harming your safety it is not your fault if anything happens to him  

Answer 2

no, because the burglar is breaking & entering.

Answer 3

I have never heard of that one before but I do know a case where a burglar tripped over a wire and sued and won, I also know one where he got locked in the garage while the fam was on vacation. So basically you can't go to jail but they can SUE like mad and quite a few of them have won the cases.

Answer 4

yes you can get in trouble for it. its retarded but its true.  

Answer 5

You can't go to jail for it. HOWEVER!! You can be sued for damages to himself while on YOUR property. Yes it is messed up and totally ridiculous, that someone who breaks into your house, is on your property illegally, can actually sue YOU for your dog injuring him. He more than likely won't win the outcome, but it puts a damper on your life with court dates, attorney fees, and so on. Yes it is true. And yes some lawyers will actually take their case!

Answer 6

depends on which state you live in..in Texas..no..hope your dog got a nice treat and then you shot the bad guy..in California..possibly..because you did not give the criminal a "fair" warning you had a "mean"dog in your house...just depends man...good luck

Answer 7

Tell your friend he is full  of bull.

We have right to protect our selves, and one of the reasons wwe have dogs is for protection. I hope your dog chews his but off. Give him a treat for me if he does, like a nice big T-Bone.  

Now if you do go to jail ask for a jury trial......I want to see 12 people who would convict you.......even if one finds you innocent you are off the hook.

Answer 8

That is ridiculous.

Answer 9

Ha ha, of course not. I live in California, and these home invaders broke into a family's home. One of the teens in the home picked up a gun and shot one of the 3 invaders dead. When the cops got there, all they said to him was "where did the other two go".  

Answer 10

If someone breaks into your home. Kill the dog and sue him

Answer 11

Are you kidding? The cops would probably pat you on the back for a job well done by the dog!

Answer 12

if your dog attacks for no reason it gets 1 warning and after that it gets put on some dangerous dog list and if it attacks again it gets killed.  and if it attacks in a break-in, a dog is just doing its job, you can;t go to jail.

Answer 13

i think you can i know it sounds bad but i think so

Answer 14

if the burglar has a weapon then you can use any type of way to protect urself.  but if the dude doesnt have a weapon, then maybe you can get in trouble..  lol stop by the police dept with ur friend and ask them this question... haha

Answer 15

No u cant go to jail for that. hes breaking an entry and thats against the law. he will go to jail not u. its his fault ur dog was just following its intincts and protecting u and ur home. dont worry about a thing u wont get in trouble

Answer 16

I don't think you'd go to jail, but you can be liable for damages. The person could also sue if she/he were so inclined.

Answer 17

I think it would be the same situation as shooting the b*****d... Self- defense.  I think it depends on what state you're in though.

Answer 18

Well there are some really stupid judges out there that might put you in jail.

Answer 19

If someone breaks into your home you have the right to use any means necessary to protect yourself, and that includes a dog. You won't go to jail, but the burglar may try to get some shady lawyer to sue you, but more than likely it'll be tossed out. I was a Cop for 8 years and I actually came across a couple of cases like that. You will not go to jail, so your friend is wrong.

Answer 20

That was on the news in the late 90's.

Another was-

A man fell through a woman's skylight while he was breaking into her house, and fell on a butcher knife- he won a lawsuit against her.

The lawsuit you are referring to did happen and he did win.

Sad isn't it?

I wish you the best

xoxo

Meg

& " my money hat" it did happen.

its ridiculous, I agree, yet still the same- it did happen in both instances.

Answer 21

it's hear say that i've heard but i heard about someone that fell through a skylight and sued the company they we're trying to getting into for having weak windows or something. ppl can sue for ugly looks these days nearly and its sickening.

Answer 22

omg i dos happen my friend had a burglar in his house and triped and fell on a knife and my friend got in deep s**z (s**z = S**t+giz)

Answer 23

Yes he can actually.

Dogs don't "protect" homes. They're pets. You protect them. They are domesticated, not living in the wild. It would be absurd to say my cat, parrot, or pet snake protects my home. I care for them.

If you have no warning sign saying "beware of dog" or any warning that could very well jeopardize the health and well being of this burglar or any individual entering your home, you are at liability. He is a burglar, that is his profession. And deserves and safe and health conscious world to live in. That's why we have locks, and doors, and vaults, and safes. So they can't Burglar into them. You hurting him or putting him in the risk of being injured is unjustifiable. And clearly shows a disregard to human life.

The American justice system is fascinating don't you think?

Answer 24

If someone breaks into your house and gets hurt, you can be taken to court and sued for the burglar's injuries. I heard of a guy who fell through a skylight trying to break into someone's house broke his leg, and sued the owner, AND WON!  I know that in the state of MO someone can come in your house and sit on your couch, or take your stuff and you leglly can't do anything to them, except call the cops. Amazing how gov. works isn't it?

Answer 25

There is a conflicting law you have on different States I should say. Because in one incident one burglar entered a home and was bitten by his pet dog, later on the burglar filed a complain against the owner for civil injury. Some laws maybe stupid, because what I see in the US laws they favor those persons who commit mayhem instead of protecting the very citizen of society.

So your friend maybe saying the truth, in most likely scenario or cases, a burglar may file a civil damage suit against the owner for injury. But I suppose these is case to case basis. Yes you are correct in stating that how can a person get in trouble for someone else committing a crime against the person. And the dog which owners possess obviously to guard every homes against intruders. I guess the law differs in every State.

Let me just answer your question like these: IF A BURGLAR BREAKS INTO MY HOME for instance, AND IS INJURED BY MY DOG I won't got to jail but I can be sue for the injury. I think this is the best way to re-phrase your question, nobody gets to jail for something like these but definitely the burglar will end up in jail for breaking and entering offense a felony under the existing law. So only one will go to jail the burglar NOT THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE which in your question is seem that way which is incorrect.  

Answer 26

If he has a better lawyer than you, everything is possible in America.

Answer 27

no

the YOUR dog was protecting YOUR home and the burgular entered YOUR home

Answer 28

If you live in the state of California, then not only WILL you go to jail, but you get to pay the jerk who broke into your house for doctor bills and mental anguish.  It happens all the time.  Oh, they may even make you put your dog to sleep because now it has injured someone and could be considered a threat.

Answer 29

It depends on where you live...It's fine in most places but if you're in NYC or Chicago then you're screwed no matter what.

Answer 30

No, if a burglar breaks in your house and is mauled or killed by your dog, you cannot be sued by him/her or his/her family.  As long as they are "in" your house, you have nothing to worry about.  If your dog happens to kill the burglar "outside" your house in an attempt to break "in" your house, I would make sure that when officers arrive, the body is "inside" your house.  Get my drift?

Answer 31

see what the judge at the court says if someone says you've gotta go to jail. but i doubt it.

your dog would be your hero.